(WNY News Now) – A 52-year-old Gowanda woman was sentenced this morning before State Supreme Court Justice Debra Givens to 1 to 3 years in prison, announced Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn.
Between February 1, 2016 and August 1, 2022, the defendant, Michele Boland, stole a total of $266,963.30 from her employer while working as a bookkeeper for a business in Orchard Park The defendant committed the crime by writing a series of checks to herself, which she purposely mislabeled in the company’s accounting software to appear as legitimate business expenses. The theft was uncovered after the business noticed irregularities on a company credit card, which prompted an investigation.
In addition to using the stolen money to pay her personal credit card bills, the defendant paid herself several “bonus” checks through the company’s payroll provider. The defendant also failed to declare any of those additional funds on her personal income taxes.
Boland pleaded to one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (Class “C” felony) and one count of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree (Class “E” felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest sustainable charges on August 3, 2023. As part of the plea, the defendant signed a Confession of Judgments to pay $266,963.30 in restitution to the business and an additional $16,400.33 in restitution to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. To date, she has not paid any restitution.
DA Flynn commends Detective Darryl Purucker of the Town of Orchard Park Police and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Brian P. Dassero and Robin J. Deubler of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions (SIP) Bureau.
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